The Graduate School encourages graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to seek funding for their work and research at the University of Maryland, College Park. Students may seek funding for a variety of needs including research, stipend support and travel to meetings or conferences. In order to help facilitate this search, we are providing the below link to a resource that has an extensive selection of funding opportunities in a format that is quite "user friendly." Despite its name, The Community of Science (COS) lists funding sources for all disciplines (e.g., see samples below).
The COS website is open to all members of the University of Maryland, College Park community. Once logged into COS, you can conduct searches in a variety of ways by using search terms, advanced searches, or a useful "search wizard" that guides you through developing your own comprehensive search.
When you visit COS for the first time, you must create a User ID (this must be done from a University computer with a University IP address). Once you have completed this step, you can access COS from anywhere. However, we request that when you leave the University you delete your COS account.
Once you set up a search, you can store the profile and reconfigure the search as needed. You can also arrange for COS to notify you on a regular basis when relevant funding opportunities arise. Finally, COS will also notify you when due dates are approaching for sources that interest you.
To help illustrate the power of using COS, the following links will take you to sample searches, one in African American Studies and one in American Studies. These examples demonstrate the wide range of potential funding sources available to graduate students in these disciplines (Note: these search results are NOT COMPLETE and are included for your reference ONLY).
This is a sample of a search for funding for fellowships in African American Studies.
This is a sample for a search for funding for support in American Studies.
For useful tips on how to navigate the COS website, please visit this web site provided by the office of the Vice President for Research.
In many cases, funding sources require a formal application that has to come through an institution, such as the University of Maryland, College Park. Once you identify the source and start to think about an application, it is critical that you consult with your advisors, mentors, and/or committee chairs (as appropriate in your discipline) regarding the best approach to apply for funding. Generally, this means that the application much be routed through the University, and this starts with your department and college. In some cases you apply to the funding source directly, and the source will tell you if that is the case. In all cases, you should make sure your department knows if you have received an award.
